Odisha Far behind in National development Index

Rourkela : 40 percent of Odisha’s revenue comes from the service sector. The next higher revenue earning source is excise duty followed by mines and minerals. The farm sector contributes only two percent revenue to the state exchequer. The existing revenue structure of the state needs to be revisited because it doesn’t allow our employment to grow, said Dr. Sarat Kumar Pradhan, Chief Economic Adviser, South Africa High Commission, New Delhi. He was addressing the plenary session of the ‘Inclusive Odisha Conclave’ organised by Paschimanchala on 7-8 July at Panthanivas, Rourkela. Despite rice supplied at Rs 1per kg people below poverty line are unable to manage two square meals a day. Distribution of doles and sops to the poor is not the answer for the socio-economic growth of the state. Purchasing power of the people must increase so also the per capita income, he added.
Dr. Bhisma Prasad Rath, CEO, Hi-Tech group of Medical Colleges and hospitals and president, Bhumika Eye Hospital spoke on the rural health care service which is yet to reach their doorstep.Rural poor are deprived of quality health services because of poor road connectivity linking the urban centres. He stressed the need for increasing the number of seats for graduate and PG students in medical colleges.
Dr. Ashok Panda, chairman, PRCI Bhubaneswar said Odisha’s growth has been steady, but asymmetrical. A lopsided development stands on the way of Odisha’s inclusive growth. In a large canvas Panda painted a rosy picture of the state, its flora and fauna, the 400 km long sea beach, heritage sites, the temples besides the art and architecture. The state should find its due place among the developed states of the country but lags behind despite huge natural resources which should be exploited for economic uplift of the people.
Surama Mishra, Editor, Paschimanchala said the government is sitting atop a gold mine. But none the less it is begging before the Centre for separate status. She gave a vivid picture how Rourkela has been neglected over the years by successive governments.
Earlier Baidyanath Mishra, chairman of the conclave in his welcome address had a swipe at the government for area centric growth. Deficit in governance is the only reason for the backwardness of the state. “We need sprinters, not long distance runners to bridge the development gap at a faster pace”, he said. A uniform development will raise the status of the state to reach at par with other advanced states of the nation. Lack of political will, negative attitude of the people and bureaucratic inertia are reasons for the under developed economy of the state.
Amit Tripathy, Director of shine group and soft skill trainer anchored the programme. The plenary session was followed by five technical sessions namely Agriculture sector (water Resources and Environment concerns), Health care at Doorstep, Tapping Tourist potential of Odisha -Ground Reality, Odisha’s mineral and forest Driven Economy : Has the state become richer and MSME sector : Entrepreneurships and skill Development.